Can "Free-From" Food Consumption Be a Signal of Psychological Distress during COVID-19?

Lorenzo Morelli,Guendalina Graffigna,Greta Castellini,Mariarosaria Savarese

doi:10.3390/foods11040513

Lorenzo Morelli, Guendalina Graffigna + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11040513

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Abstract

During the last year, feelings of anxiety and depression were registered among the Italian population and affected food consumption. Among the research that explored people’s dietary inclinations during the current pandemic, no previous studies have explored psychological factors associated with the “free-from” dietary pattern. Our study is aimed at understanding if free-from food consumption orientations can be associated with negative psychological distress. We conducted a web-based survey between 27/10/2020–03/12/2020 on a representative sample of 963 Italians. Psychometric scales and ad hoc items were used to measure people’s levels of anxiety, depression, fear for contagion and consumption orientation towards “free-from” foods. Of the sample, 18.2% frequently purchased gluten-free food products and 22.5% purchased lactose-free foods. Most of the population (44.1%) feels very at risk of contagion from COVID-19 and suffers from anxiety (52.8%) and depression (55.0%). Free-from consumers are more anxious, depressed, have higher risk of contagion, and are younger than the non-consumers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, free-from foods can represent for the people a way to restore control over their lifestyle, which was denied during the emergency. However, we highlight possible negative long-term effects of this dietary choice.

Highlights

During the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic led to deep lifestyle changes all over the world, especially in the most hit countries, such as Italy
Concerning the consumption of gluten-free and lactose-free food products, the results show that 18.2% of the sample purchased frequently, in the last month, gluten-free food products (4 and 5 points on likert scale) while the majority of the population (43.5%) have never bought them (Table 2)
Comparing the average consumption of lactose-free and gluten-free food products, the results show that the Italian population purchased lactose-free products more frequently than gluten-free ones (2.18 vs. 2.29, p < 0.01)

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic led to deep lifestyle changes all over the world, especially in the most hit countries, such as Italy. People experienced uncertainty about the duration of the quarantine, fear of getting infected or dying, for themselves or their loved ones, frustration, boredom, infodemic, overall uncertainty of the future, fear of significant financial losses, or long-term repercussions on the country [4,5] These events put a strain on the emotional sphere of every individual, causing anxiety and depression. People were experiencing very controversial feelings: on the one hand, they were conscious of the very precarious epidemic situation; on the other they demonstrated frustrations and fatigue in expecting to spend this particular moment of the year in solitude These controversial circumstances generated psychological repercussions, increasing levels of anxiety and frustration which, in turn, may have had an impact on their orientation towards food. Those foods, can reduce negative emotional states as they encourage serotonin production with a positive effect on mood, but they are associated with the increased risk of developing obesity and cardiovascular diseases [22]

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